Water heating and storage system



` Julyl 13, 1937. H D, sTEl-QRlCK 2,086,647

WATER HEATING AND STORAGE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wrm SSES lNvEN-rcn Mw. Man/saw JJ. arm/CK,

` Afton NY.

July 13, 1937.

H. D.' STERRICK WATER HEATING AND STORAGE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. f/Am/sa/v 6mm/CK.

wlmessfs MM@ ATTORNEY.

` thatiisl ordinarily lost 25 the line 4-4, Fig.

y 55 `9 is disposed around the coil 5,

Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED STATE,

WATER HEATING. AND s'roaAGE `srs'rmu y l Harriaonv D..Sterrick, Fittsburgh, Pa.

Application February s, 1935, sei-nim. snes c. i, Vz claims. This invention relates to' new and useful lmprovements in water heating and storage systems, y

the objects thereofto provide v apparatus which` shall bey highly efllcient 1in the 5 heating of water as demanded by the systen'i and which shall make use of substantially all ofthe heat of the burner through anarrangement kof heat conducting and'absorbing baille members, provisions being also made toabsorb vthe heat through radiation from the storage and circulatlngsystem.

' These and other objects ofthe invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration A of the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

Fig. 1 isa front elevational vview partially in section of `a hot water storageand heating system embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2k a plan view of a burner utilized in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;v f

Fig. V3 a sectional elevation of a ilow control device employed in the structureof Fig. l;

Fig. 4 a cross-section of the Vburner taken along 2; Fig. k5 a cross-section of "circulation control valve; l y

Fig. 6a plan view of the heating coil; Fig. 'I a diagrammatic view of the top portion of the heating coil; y Fig; 8 a front elevation partially in section of amodifiedform ofthe device of Fig. 1;`

Figs. 9, 10, 11, and12 are cross-sectional views of special heatercoil tubing; f1

Fig. 13 a plan viewof the heater coil; Fig.` 14a' side elevation of a baille rmember y utilized in conjunctionwith the coil;l Y

l Fig. A15` a side lelevation partially in section of still another modification of the heating and stor age system; Fig. 16 a plan view of a baille stripemployed `'in the manner hereinafter designated; and

Fig. '17 a sectional elevational view of a modilfled form -of heater. f i 1 With reference to the structure shown in Figs. l to '7 inclusive'of the drawingsgthe numeral I designates a hot water storage tank having an inlet connection 2 and an outlet connection 3 for attachment of helicalcoils=4 and5, respectively, the helix 4 leading toa'sourcewof cold water supply 6 and the helix 5 to a heating coil 41'connec'ted to a service line 8 from which hot water is @withdrawn for use. `C0115 is 'wound around the storage tankv If.l A cylindrical housing the coil 4 around and it is among a` modified form of the housing 9, and a second housing or casing I0 is disposed around thecoii 4, the housing I0 having an opening or vent I I at the top thereof.

`It is to be noted that the endof the coiled pipe 4 extends into the storage tank to within a short `distance of the bottom of the tank,this end being designated by the numerallZ.,V Thelower end of the coil 5 is splrally wound as designated by the numeral I3, and a metal or refractory strip I4 Yis mounted in contact with the coil I3 to produce a maximum surface area. for the absorption of heat which is conducted through strip `I4 tothe coil i3. The heater coil 1 is attachedto the cen- 1 ter of thespiral coill3 and is disposed above a burner I5 connected to a source of gaseous or other fuel at I6. The ycoil 5 is connected to the spiral coil I3 at II` and the heating coil 1 is connected to the` spiral coil I3 at I8, Fig. '1. The burner l5 is preferably of the construction shown in Fig. 2 to provide a maximum burner, area by the distribution of the burner openings I9 in the manner. shown in Fig. 2.1 t

'The operation of the device shown in Figs, 1. 2, 4, 6, and 7 is briefly as follows: The heat` of the burner l5 passes upwardly into and around coil 1, thence through the spiralcoil I3 and follows the 'heiicalflue constituted by c0115, the` outer wall ofl tank i and the inner wall of the housing 9. The coils, 1, I3, and 5 form azlarge surface for the absorption of the heat fromthe burner I5 and inaddition the baille strip` I4 of coil I3 and the walls of the tank I and housing S absorb `heat' fromvthe :products of combustion as they risc between the housing and the tank. The coil 5 is madeto `contact; tank I and housing `9 so combustionpthus retarding the upward ymovement of the hot gases and allowing a maximum time for the absorption of the heat. Thev rate of this vertical movement ofthe heat can be controlied `by the pitch of the coill 5 which must be sufllcient to prevent any back pressure .that might interfere with proper combustion at the burner i5. The heat from the housing 9 is absorbed by the cold water supply coil 4 to provide preheating of the water-'passing into the storage tank through the inlet connection 2." Housing 9 absorbs the heat radiated from tank I, thus providing for maximum heat absorption to obtain the 'highest efiiciency of the heat input.-

The system shown -called instantaneous heating or the burner may be so controlled that water in the storage tank is maintained at a 'given temperature and additional heat is supplied when the water is withas to forma `helical flue fpassage for the products` of drawn through the service connection 8, several methods of controlling the application of the heat being shown in the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 15.`

In the structure shown in Fig. 8 the tank I, inner housing 9 and outer housing I 0 are the same as shown in Fig. 1. 'I'he cold watersupply line 4 is coiled and passes into the storage tank at the top connection 2 as in Fig. 1 and extends towards the bottom of the tank I asshown by the connection I2, the same as in Fig. 1, the numeral 6 designating the cold water supply line. The heater coil of Fig. meral 28, is of any of the constructions shown in cross-sectional views, Figs. 9, l0, and 11, wherein tubing having integrally formed radiating fins 2'I is utilized to provide maximum heating surfaces. Coil 20 is connected to tank I by a pipe 22 extending through the bottom of the tank to a point near the top of the tank, the end of the vertical pipe being designated by the numeral 23. Burner 24 is provided beneath the coil 20, the burner being provided with'a pilot name 25 and with regular burner openings 25. A strip 21 which may be bronze or other metal of high heat conductivity is disposed between the storage tank I and housing 9 to form a helical flue 28 for the passage of the products of combustion. A metal strip 29, Figs. 13 and 14, may be disposed between the coils of the heater coil 20 to provide heat absorbing surfaces where the coil itself is not provided with the ns 2| shown in Figs. 9 to 11.

The structure of Fig. 8 is of the circulating type employing a flow control Vdevice 38 which is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, and consists of a T connection 3I, one end of which is connected to the cold water supply coil 4 leading to the top of the tank; the other end to Aa source of cold water supply 6. Another T 32 is connected to the T 3| and an L 33 connects at the bottom of T 32, connection 34 and 35 bing made with the T 32 and L 33, respectively. Connection 34 leads to the service line and 35 to the heater coil 28. A baille plate 38 is disposed in the T 3I and is provided with a central oriilce 31 in which is connected a; small diameter bent pipe 38 having an open end 39 in the flow passage of the coil line 35. The end of cold water line 5 projects into T 3I beyond the orifice torted path of flow.

In operation, the cold water supply is always in communication with the coil 4 leading to the top of the tank I and connection 35 is'always established with the heater coil 20. As previously mentioned, the pilot 25 is burning continuously and the main burner is controlled by a thermostator valve of the conventional type. of the pilot flame 25 causes the Water in coil 28 to. be heated and pass upwardlyinto storage tank I. When the service connection 34 is closed,

water passing upwardly in coil 20 is replaced by cold water passing through opening 31 of the T 3| through the small bent pipe 38 into the bottom of the coil. When water is drawn through the service connection 34, a reverse ilow will result through coil 20 to the connection 35, thence into T 32 and out through the service connection 34. This reverse flow is impinged against the opening 39 of the small pipe 38, thus preventing the withdrawal of cold Water from the line 4 into the service line 34. By this construction, circulation fromnthe Vcoil -to the tank and reversing of flow is eil'ected without any movable valve mechanism. A modification of the flow device of Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 3 wherein a T 40 is providedwith a 8, designated by the nu-` 31 to-produce a disconnection 4I leading-to a heating coil, a connection 42 leading to a service line, and 48 connecting to a T f a water supply line.

In the structure shown in Fig. 15, the tank I, inner housing 9 and outer housing I8 are the same as in Figs. 1 to 8. 'I'he water supply coil 4 is disposed between the inner and outer housings and is spirally arranged at, the top, the spiral coil being designated by the numeral 44 and a connection extends to within the tank terminating at I2. A coil is connected at the top oi' the tank at 3 as in Fig. 1 and passes around the exterior of the tank to a heater coil 45 having fins 46 as shown in Fig. 12. 'I'he water supply coil 4 is connected by-a pipe 8 and the heater coil is connected to a ow control device 41 having a connection 48 to a service faucet. A gas line 49 is connected to a burner 58 having a pilot flame 5I and a main burner portion 52.

In operation, coil 45 is heated by the pilot ilame 5I and the heated water passes into tank .I at the top thereof, cold water being supplied through coil 4. 'Ihe bailies 45 and the spiral coil 44 at the top of the tank together with the arrangement of spiral coils and housings as in Fig. 1 will provide a maximum heat absorbing area for the products of combustion.

When the service faucet 48 is opened, hot water is withdrawn from the vtank I through; coil 45, and thence through the flow control mechanism 41. This ow of water will actuate a valve in the housing 53 to open the gas line 49 causing the main burner 52 to be ignited and the coil 45 to be subjected to passing through temperature.

Fig. 17 shows a heater comprising a housing 68 having a burner 6I at the bottom thereof. A water pipe 52 is disposed centrally of the housing and a iin 83 is secured between the housing and pipe. The iin 63 is helically wound and attached to pipe 52 by brazing or welding toy conduct the heat absorbed by the fin to the pipe. The iin extends from pipe 82' to the inner wall of housing 50 forming a helical flue for the products of combustion.

It is evident from the foregoing description of the invention that water heating systems made in the coil to use is of maximum increased in .temperature by the main'burner `when the hot water is withdrawn at the service connection.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein `set forth. y

1. A water heating .and prising a storage'tank and a pair oi' cylindrical housings disposed around said tank in spaced relation therewith, a water supply line in the form of a helix disposed between said cylindrical housings entering the top of the storage tank and storage system comnating into a spiral at the top and connected to the bottom of the helical pipe connected to the top of the tank, and a bumer below said heating coil. t .y

intense heat so that the water genau? 3 2. A water heating and storage system comprising a storage tank and a pair of cylindrical housings disposed around said tank in spaced relation therewith, a water supply line in the form of a helix disposed between said cylindrical housings entering the top of the storage tank and extending tokadjacent the bottom thereof, and a helical pipe connected to the top of the storage tank extending to the bottom thereof, a. heating coil of pyramidal shape below the tank terminating into a spiral at the top and connected to the bottom of the helical pipe connected to the top of the tank, and a, burner disposed below said coil and having burner openings coextensive with the maximum diameter of the heating coil.

HARRISON D. STERRICK. 

